• Jennifer Lawrence will star in the Adam McKay comedy Don't Look Up for Netflix. The streaming giant on Wednesday announced that it acquired the project. McKay, who wrote the script, will direct the film about two low-level astronomers who go on a media tour to warn of an approaching asteroid heading for Earth. Lawrence has been little seen on the big screen lately, most recently co-starring in last year's X-Men: Dark Phoenix. The 29-year-old actress took a roughly two-year hiatus from acting but has recently returned to work. She recently wrapped production on an untitled film for A24 directed by Lila Neugebauer. "I'm so thrilled to make this movie with Jen Lawrence," McKay said in a statement. "She's what folks in the 17th century used to call 'a dynamite act.' And the fact that Netflix sees this movie as a worldwide comedy sets the bar high for me and my team in an exciting and motivating way." McKay's most recent movie was 2018's Oscar-nominated Vice, starring Christian Bale as Dick Cheney. "Adam has always had great timing when it comes to making smart, relevant and irreverent films that depict our culture," said Scott Stuber, head of film at Netfix. "Even if he somehow ends up predicting planet Earth's imminent demise, we're excited to add this to our slate before it all comes to an end."
• Dan Brown's next book will have a lighter, more musical touch. The Da Vinci Code author is working on a picture story, Wild Symphony, scheduled to be published Sept. 1. Rodale Kids, an imprint of Random House Children's Books, announced the book Thursday and called it an "entertaining" experience in which "the playful Maestro Mouse, trusty baton in hand, brings readers along as he visits a variety of animal friends, from cheetahs and kangaroos to elephants and blue whales." Wild Symphony will be illustrated by Susan Batori and will be accompanied by a release of children's classical music, written by Brown. "I love storytelling, and my novels always attempt to weave together varied themes," Brown said in a statement. "With Wild Symphony, I was excited to build on this idea and create a truly layered experience by using three different languages simultaneously -- art, music, and words. In the same way that an opera captivates its audience by presenting beautiful sets, dramatic music, and lyrical drama, Wild Symphony strives to be an immersive feast for eyes, ears, and mind, all at the same time."
A Section on 02/21/2020